State committed to conservation of Himalaya: CM

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has said that the State Government is committed to the conservation of the Himalaya. Among the efforts to be taken for this, the use of single-use polythene will also be stopped in the State. The Chief Minister said this while speaking at a programme on Himalaya Day here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that the Himalaya is important not only for the State and nation but also for the whole world. He said, “For the conservation of the Himalaya, it is vital to also conserve the culture, rivers and forests of this region. Conservation of water is the top priority of the State Government.

With public involvement, we undertook to the Rispana to Rishiparna and Kosi river rejuvenation campaigns. The district magistrates have been instructed to develop one watershed in each district. It is a matter of happiness that among others, the children have also taken part enthusiastically in such efforts.”

Pointing at the necessity of trees, he said that without trees there will be no water. For large scale tree plantation, the State Government will observe one day for this so that crores of trees can be planted across the state in a single day. In the past 2.50 lakh trees were planted as part of the Rispana to Rishiparna campaign in one day in Dehradun while 1.67 lakh trees were planted in the Kosi rejuvenation campaign. He also informed that the use of plastic water bottles had been prohibited in the secretariat.

Recalling the Himalayan conclave held in the recent past in Mussoorie, he said that in the Mussoorie declaration passed at the conclave, the Himalayan States had committed themselves to conserve the environment of the Himalaya.